Dipersilakan untuk Like Facebook Page T. Besi

Search Malaysiawaves

Monday, June 9, 2008

Average Malaysian should consider that the recent hike in oil prices is a sign of corruption having a direct impact on Malaysian’s daily life. Will Malaysians allow the rich to become richer or will they put a stop to this trend once and for all?(Picture Courtesy of Penarik Beca)

If it wouldn’t for corruption, Malaysians would not have to experience such a high rate of oil price. But, since Barisan Nasional has nearly run this country into bankruptcy (remember Bank Negara has gone bankrupt more than twice), when a problem like the rise of international oil prices hits Malaysia.

Of course, the powers that be do not want to sacrifice their share of the country’s wealth, so naturally, the extra cost is transferred to the average people. This would mean that mothers and fathers will have less time to spend with their children and each other, families will have to start cutting more than corners, less time can be spent buying quality food and clothing, rate of divorce will be higher and many more.

Furthermore, please remember that having less money is the least of average Malaysia’s problem. Such an increase in our cost of living will result in less savings for our children or even none. The future of our children is at stake and if the situation does not improve, it would mean that our children might not be able to enjoy the same quality of life that we have managed to enjoy.

And many will testify that since 2004 our average incomes did not increase that much or even enough to offset rate of inflation. We are forced to make ends meet each time end of the month arrives. At the same time the price of goods increases without a hitch.

Now, after suffering for 4 years, Malaysians are subjected to more hike in prices of oil and subsequently goods. We now question, how will Malaysians respond? Will there be an uprising and a movement to demand for their rights. Or at least they should move to protect the future of their children?

Average Malaysian should consider that the recent hike in oil prices is a sign of corruption having a direct impact on Malaysian’s daily life. Will Malaysians allow the rich to become richer or will they put a stop to this trend once and for all?

Many Malaysians actually do not know the extent of corruption effecting their lives. Most Malaysians just simply accept the government line that the hike is only due to international pressures and the BN government is only doing what they’re suppose to do, in the interest of the people.

The challenge now is to get the average, run-of-the-mill Malaysians to realize this fact. The fact that their children’s future is at stake is not so much on their minds, largely because of their ignorance.

The way I see it, the oil problem is a good opportunity for Pakatan Rakyat and the rest to spread the sensitivity against corruption to every Malaysian regardless of their walk of life. We have languished so much under a corrupt system and we are now made to pay for the corruption of a few.

If we take our Indonesian neighbor post Suharto, it seems everyone is of one opinion that their state of poverty is largely attributed to corruption. Such a realization in the minds of every single Indonesian regardless of their social status. We must emulate the Indonesians in spreading this realization.

The key to curbing corruption lies in the people, not the government. How does one expect a body of the government to check on corrupt practices by the government itself. It’s like asking a thief to serve as judge and jury and convict himself. It just doesn’t work.

The other challenge is to spread the realization among the rural people. The rural community are largely Malays and they are mostly involved in the commodity sector. Since a few years ago, the commodity prices have experiences massive hike thus increasing their income ten fold.

And rural people are largely low users of fuel in their daily lives. They mostly ride on motorbikes and when they drive their cars, it’s usually to go for visits and other recreational or social activities. Therefore, on average, they utilize less oil per capita as compared to their urban counterparts. We, in the city, are forced to drive to work day in day out. As such our utilization of oil is at least 5 times theirs.

Furthermore, the rural folks are not bogged down by mortgages and car-loans as much as us in the city. Therefore, the cost of living in the rural area are largely cheaper than in the cities.

As a result, the rise of oil prices by the government, effects rural folks the least. Therefore, anger is at a lower rate among rural people as compared to urban dwellers.In fact, Barisan Nasional managed to hold on to Negeri Sembilan by the skin of their teeth simply because of high commodity prices. As a result, the rural electorate in Negeri Sembilan votes for BN in large numbers.

On the other hand, most Malays in the cities either works for the government or for a GLC. Very few are truly independent. Therefore, their voices are stifled and are forced to accept whatever the government dish out to them.

Barisan Nasional also realize the fact that most Parliament and State seats are comprised of rural areas. That is why they are willing to take this chance. I mean to what extent will the urban people protest to recent oil price hike? Will they come out in large numbers and protest the government until it falls? The BN doesn’t think so and therefore are willing to take this chance. After all, with the rural votes, the BN is able to control the Federal government albeit without a 2/3 majority.

Furthermore, the BN can always rely on the SPR, JPN, PDRM, the Army, mass media etc to lie and cheat in their favor. Their corrupt practices can continues because they are confident that with just votes from the urban area, the PAkatan Rakyat will not be able to topple the Barisan Nasional.

Therefore, it is our challenge to spread the realization down to the kampong people so that all Malaysians will speak in one voice in defiance of corruption, nepotism and abuse. The kampong folks must be made to realize that corruption will destroy their future and their children future. This is our challenge indeed.

9 comments:

Anonymous
said...

You are right, you hit it spot on!It should not be the end of subsidies, it should be the end for CORRUPTION and BN. Thats what BN represents in the eyes of the rakyat (except the rural areas, where they dont get access to the real news).All the BN idiots drive big cars, eat in 5 stars' hotel ( even the recent Umno gathering was held in a 5 stars resort!) , countless maids, overseas holidays and the list of sins goes on.If the rakyat dont take charge now, we may turn into the new Phillipines, once the golden boy of Asia and now the sickman of Asia.The worst PM and cabinet we ever had in history.He may not hear it but most of us are cursing him and his team in silence and hope he go or someone take them away. Thats how much hatred we have for someone who has screwed up the country since 2004.

You are absolutely right about the BN, especially the UMNO government's corrupt practices over the last 50 years or more of their so-called managing (more like destroying) Malaysia. Singapore has higher petrol prices but Singaporeans enjoy a much higher standard of living, even without the natural resources that Malaysia has. Where did all the money in Malaysia go, if not in the pockets of all the corrupt BN politicians? Simple arithmetic tells you that even if these corrupt leaders of Malaysia does not spend a single cent of their salary, multiply by the number of years of their service, how do they explain the kind of wealth they have today? A good example is the late Zakaria Derios....from where and what he was, how did he get to the kind of obscene display of wealth, if not for corruption?Frankly, Malaysia is destroyed by the so-called leaders in the government and these are the people we give respect to? How stupid can Malaysians be?

This issue has been on going for years and it has gone from bad to worse. Seriously, we have no one to blame but ourselves with our tidak apa attitude.

Try fighting back when you do see corruption especially if you work for GLC and see what happens? You get canned or cold storage. I should know coz I was one of the more vocal ones and the CEO of the GLC I worked for is now Minister at Prime Minister Department and has recently been awarded Tan Sri by Agung.

The CEOs of most of the GLCs are there not because of their ability but mostly their ability to kowtow to their political masters and I witness and experience this first hand.

The government civil servant are also in the same position. The old days where th civil servants are patriotic and into nation building is sadly over.....

Not only that, Singapore do not need to subsidize their petroleum because their public transport system is the best in South East Asia. If our LRT is good, I am sure MAJORITY of our people will opt for LRT as compared to driving.

No one will question the removal of subsidy in Singapore since they can see it with their own eyes where the money goes to, their efficient and cheap transport system.

It is time for us rakyat to walk the streets and demand for an action. Otherwise just walk to Putrajaya Prime Ministers office and physically throw him out of the office along with the rest of BN Ministers. We have to do this otherwise the rot will not stop. We the rakyat must walk the talk by overthrowing them. Do not worry about the might of the goverment. The rakyat is mightier than the goverment.

Yes indeed, it is the awakening. The whole lot of attitudes that typifies a Malaysian need to be changed. Only then can we stand tall and walk tall with our heads high up in the sky.

Malaysians had been hoodwinked and made to toe the line in everything for a whole generation and had sadly been made into robots that have left their brains at home for too long. It is the awakening.

Those who are vocals and championed for progress and integrity were all made into outcasts. Those who challenged and asked "why?" when asked to jump were downtroddened for a whole good generation. Only those who said "how high" remained comforted. And what we are getting now is the end result of it all.

We have too many nobrainers left in this country who are very comfortable but won't be for long when the hard fact of international incapabilities slowly caught up with them. The brainers had been there and had done it all by now -- ISA, jail, blackeyed,condemned, left the condemned land and the lots.

The realities have only just begun to sink in.

Are we now going to be WORKING WITH SOMEONE or will we still be working FOR someone ?

Will our open door policies now be "We will Listen" or still "the door is wide open, please leave anytime if you don't fit " ?

Will we now be guided by "Elected to Serve the Rakyat " or "Elected to being served by the Rakyat " ?